Graphic design is crucial for any type of publication, whether that publication is posted on the web or printed on paper. Simply inserting a few photos and text boxes on a slide doesn't make a quality presentation, comic book or even yearbook.

One of the best ways to improve your graphic design skills is to replicate professional designs. Learn or review a few more skills before completing the activity at the bottom on the page.

The above photos are examples of graphic design in Google Slides. All three examples were created or modified in Google Slides by Darren Maltais.  These lessons are posted on Darren's website and used here with permission.

More Templates

By now, you have completed the following sections:

Use the skills and tools you learned on those pages plus a few more on this page to 1) use a magazine template and 2) create your own Google Slides template.

Graphic Design Platforms

Google Slides is not a graphic design platform like Canva or Adobe Express. However, the simplicity of the Slides app helps us use graphic design fundamentals and principles.

Needed Skills

Use Image Placeholder

  1. Click on the image placeholder in the practice assignment below.
  2. Select Search the web or Drive to insert an image.

Resize Image Placeholder

  1. Click on the image placeholder.
  2. Select Format options.
  3. Open Size & Rotation.
  4. Resize the image as desired.

Personally, I like to use the following ratios:

  • 4:3
  • 3:4
  • 16:9

I type the first number as the width and the second number as the height. I then Lock aspect ratio before changing the size again.

Insert Text boxes

  1. Select the T icon in the format menu.
  2. Click on the edge where you want to start typing and drag to where you want to stop typing.
  3. Click inside the text box to view the format menu. Then select a new font, change the size, color, alignment, etc.
  4. Type the content.
  5. Optional: Use Format options to add a Drop shadow or give the text box a particular width and height.

Insert Shape and Type Inside It

  1. Select the shape icon on the menu.
  2. Click on Shape.
  3. Select a shape of your choice.
  4. Click where you want the shape to start and drag the shape where it will stop.
  5. Click on the shape to change its color. Click inside the shape to format the text.
  6. Type the content inside the shape.

Insert Lines

  1. Click on the line icon or select the down arrow for more options.
  2. Optional: Select a line with an arrow, elbow, curve, polyline or scribble.

Straight lines - Hold the shift key as you create the line.

Curved lines - Click at the point of the curve. Double-click to end line.

Line Weight, Color, and Dash

  1. Select the line.
  2. Click on the icon on the formatting menu. As you move your cursor across the icons, the names appear.
  3. Make your selection.

 

Graphic Design Practice

The Magazine cover and Film Review graphics are examples of what your students can create in Google Slides. In the following activity, you will create both layouts using the knowledge you gained in the Basics section of SlidesYearbook.

Skills Required

  • Use an Image Placeholder
  • Add Background color
  • Insert - Text boxes, Lines, Shapes, and Callouts
  • Change - Fill color, Font type, Font size, and Font color
  • Move objects

YouTube Playlist

  • How to learn GRAPHIC DESIGN by Karen Kavett
  • Beginning Graphic Design: Fundamentals by GCFLearnFree.org
  • Beginning Graphic Design: Layout & Composition by GCFLearnFree.org
  • Yearbook Design Basics by Tyler Melton
  • Google Slides for Desktop Publishing by Joshua Pomeroy

WEBSITES

Resources

What is SlidesYearbook?

Google Slides can be used to create presentations, e-book, magazine covers and even yearbooks.

Read More

Updated October 11, 2022.